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Disinfectant Report Card: Silver

Silver, in disinfection, refers to colloidal nanoparticles of silver that are stabilized by chelating molecules. Silver containing disinfectants have been used extensively for topical wound applications and other medical surface antisepsis and in the past decade the use of silver disinfecting agents has increased dramatically. Silver is generally not effective in the presence of organic soils, so pre-cleaning must be done in order for the disinfectant to be effective. While silver has efficacy against a broad spectrum of pathogens, it has been known to lead to antimicrobial resistance and is a hazard to both the user and the environment.